Sapp, Reid among turnouts at KC's first minicamp

Posted: Saturday, May 13, 2006

By By Rick DeanThe Capital-Journal

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- At least one situational starter was among the 60-some rookies, new additions, young veterans and tryout players attending Herm Edwards' first minicamp as coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Cornerback Benny Sapp, a third-year player who starts when the Chiefs open a game in a five-defensive back set, hadn't been "invited'' to participate, Edwards noted, but showed up anyway for the two sessions Friday. Sapp will be competing for the right corner spot opened by the release of Eric Warfield, Edwards said.

Among the other veterans participating this weekend are safety William Bartee, who is beginning his seventh season; running back Quentin Griffin, a one-time Denver starter attempting a comeback in Kansas City; cornerback Julian Battle, a starting candidate attempting to come back from an Achilles tendon injury that cost him the 2005 season; Ronnie Cruz, who will attempt to replace Tony Richardson at fullback; and defensive tackle Junior Siavii.

"It wasn't mandatory, but we suggested that we'd like to have them around,'' Edwards said of the 15 returning players who were encouraged to attend. "Some of these guys had been hurt. Some hadn't played a lot. We wanted to give them the first look at how we do things and to set the tempo for the rookies.

"And you need numbers to have a good camp so that you're not wearing guys out. If you don't have all your positions filled, you can't practice.''

All of Kansas City's seven draftees, led by first-round pick Tamba Hali, were in attendance, as were such undrafted free agents as Kansas' Nick Reid, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

Among the unsigned players participating on a tryout basis was Kansas State fullback Victor Mann.